Athletes ready to paint Lagos red for 10th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

Posted : 15 February 2025

A few hours before the 10th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Nilayo Sports Management Ltd has announced that the long-distance runners are ready to paint Lagos red.

The organizers made this known at a world press conference held on Friday at the headquarters of Access Bank, Oniru, Lagos.

This event is part of a series of activities leading up to race day and is expected to set the tone for what promises to be a landmark edition of the prestigious marathon.

Scheduled for Saturday, February 15, this year’s race is set to host approximately 4,000 athletes, including 100 elite international runners, solidifying its status as one of Africa’s premier marathon events.

Among the distinguished personalities expected to be in attendance are top government officials, sports administrators, and legendary athletes.

With anticipation building, the 10th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is set to be a historic spectacle, bringing together top-tier athletes, dignitaries, and sports enthusiasts from around the world.

The General Manager of the race, Yusuf Ali, claimed that the marathon was just a step away from attaining the Platinum Label status from the Gold Label category.

He stated that all the criteria required for the race to achieve Platinum Label status had been met, adding that the 2025 edition would feature more elite runners than ever before.

“I think we are close to getting the Platinum Label category for the Gold Label Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. We are changing the status quo this year.

“Achieving the Platinum Label category will be the first of its kind in Africa among other countries staging marathons because no country in Africa currently holds Platinum Label status.

“For the 10th anniversary, we have elite athletes capable of securing the Platinum Label and also breaking our course record, which is 2:10:00.

“The timing of the athletes is right for us, which will put us in good standing for the Platinum Label,” Ali said.

Ali, a former Director-General (D-G) of the Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), also disclosed that certain issues from the previous edition had been fully addressed to enhance the race's standing.

“Last year, the issue of water supply arose, which we have now resolved. We have also introduced additional measures, so once we overcome these challenges, we can secure the label.

“Right now, we have a significant number of elite runners participating this year. We have seven gold-label elite runners in the male category, two in the Platinum category, five gold-label female runners, and one in the Platinum category.

“The World Athletics (WA) has changed the ranking modalities, which are now assessed over three months, and the runners must be among the top 300.

“We have met all these requirements, which will greatly support our bid to join the league of Platinum races worldwide,” he said.

Ali added that the organizers had introduced additional incentives to make the 10th edition more memorable and eventful, including the invitation of pacers.

“We have a significant plan to include three pacers for the men’s category and one for the women’s category. The three pacers can also complete the race.

“We will be holding a meeting with the athletes to discuss pacer-related matters, ensuring they can also finish the race. One pacer will drop at 30 km, the second at 35 km, and the last at 40 km.

“If the pacers have the endurance, they can also finish the race, which means a pacer could potentially win the marathon.

“For the elite category, we currently have over 100 runners. As of today, we have approximately 30,000 participants in total, with more runners in the 10 km race than in the 42 km race,” he said.

Athletes ready to paint Lagos red for 10th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

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